Every year, billions of pounds in benefits go unclaimed, simply because people do not realise what they are entitled to. A benefits check is the way to find out everything you could claim, and it is free. This guide explains what a benefits check is, how to get one, when it is worth doing, and why it is one of the most valuable things you can do.
What a benefits check is
A benefits check is a process of working out all the benefits and other help you might be entitled to, based on your circumstances. It can be done using an online benefits calculator, or with an adviser who goes through your situation with you. The aim is to make sure you are not missing out on anything, from the main benefits to less well-known help, so that you receive everything you are entitled to.
Why it matters so much
Huge amounts of support go unclaimed every year, with benefits like Pension Credit, disability benefits, Council Tax Reduction and carer's support among the most commonly missed. Many people simply do not know they qualify, or assume they do not. A benefits check cuts through this by looking at your actual circumstances, and it often finds money that people had no idea they were entitled to, which can transform their finances.
Using a benefits calculator
Free online benefits calculators let you enter details about your income, savings, housing, household and health, and then show what you might be able to claim. They are quick, anonymous, and a good starting point. Several well-known ones are available, and using one takes only a little while. It is worth having your key information to hand, such as your income, rent and savings, so the result is as accurate as possible.
Getting help from an adviser
For a more thorough check, or if your situation is complicated, an adviser can do a benefits check with you, going through everything in detail and making sure nothing is missed. Advisers can also help you claim, and spot issues a calculator might not, such as how different benefits interact or whether claiming one could affect another. This kind of personal benefits check is free from many advice services and well worth seeking out.
When to get a check
It is worth getting a benefits check at any time, but especially when something changes. Good moments include a change in your income or work, a new health condition or disability, reaching State Pension age, having a baby, becoming a carer, a relationship ending, a bereavement, or a change in your housing. Each of these can change what you are entitled to, so a check at these points makes sure you are claiming the right things.
Do not assume you will not qualify
The biggest reason people miss out is assuming they will not qualify, perhaps because they have some savings, are working, or own their home. But many benefits are not means-tested, or have generous limits, and you may be entitled to more than you think. The only way to know for sure is to check, so do not rule yourself out; a benefits check costs nothing and could be well worth your while.
Acting on the results
A benefits check is only the first step; the value comes from acting on it and claiming what you are entitled to. Some benefits can only be backdated for a limited time, or not at all, so it is worth claiming promptly once a check shows you qualify. If the process feels daunting, an adviser can help you make the claims, so that the money the check identifies actually reaches you.
Checks for particular groups
Some groups are especially likely to be missing out and particularly worth a benefits check. Pensioners are often entitled to Pension Credit and the help it unlocks but do not claim it; disabled people and those with health conditions may be entitled to disability benefits they have not applied for; and carers frequently miss out on carer's support. If you or someone you know is in one of these groups, a benefits check is especially worthwhile.
It is free and confidential
A benefits check from a trusted service is free and confidential, and there is no obligation attached to it. You can find out what you might be entitled to without committing to anything, and decide what to claim afterwards. Because it costs nothing and could be worth a great deal, there is really no downside to having a check, so it is well worth making the time to do one.
Check again when things change
A benefits check is not a one-off; it is worth repeating whenever your circumstances change, because your entitlements change with them. The benefit you did not qualify for last year might be available now, and rates and rules change over time too. Making a habit of checking your entitlement every so often, and especially after any significant change, helps make sure you are always claiming everything you are entitled to.
What a check can uncover
A thorough benefits check can uncover all sorts of help beyond the obvious, such as disability benefits, carer's support, help with health and housing costs, Council Tax Reduction, and one-off help with particular needs. Because the system is so wide-ranging, it is easy to be entitled to something you have never heard of. A good check looks across the whole picture, which is why it so often finds support that people did not know existed.
Bring the right information
To get the most from a benefits check, it helps to have key information ready, such as your income, your savings, your rent or housing costs, details of your household, and any health conditions or disabilities. The more accurate the information, the more accurate the result. If you are seeing an adviser, taking recent paperwork with you, such as benefit letters and rent details, helps them give you a full and reliable picture.
In short
A benefits check works out everything you could be entitled to, using a free online calculator or with an adviser. Because so much support goes unclaimed, it is one of the most valuable things you can do, especially when your circumstances change. Do not assume you will not qualify, and act on the results promptly, as some benefits cannot be backdated far.
One of the most worthwhile things you can do
Of all the practical steps covered in this guide, getting a proper benefits check is among the very most worthwhile things you can do, because it can reveal support you did not know you were entitled to and put real money in your pocket. It costs nothing, carries no risk, and could make a substantial difference to your finances. If you do just one thing after reading this guide, let it be to check your full entitlement and then go on to claim whatever it is that the check shows you are genuinely owed.
Where to get help
Citizens Advice and free benefits calculators such as those from Turn2us and entitledto can check your entitlement. See our guides to Pension Credit and where to get free help with benefits.